Ciao!

When traveling to Italy this summer, I realized I wanted a travel guide that would tell me exactly where to eat and how to experience Italy like a local. TripAdvisor and other blogs were either overwhelming or hard to trust. So I set out to create my own.

After crowdsourcing tips from many friends (some who either studied abroad or went there on their honeymoon) and doing my own online research, my boyfriend and I found some real gems during our trip. I hope this guide helps as you plan your own Italian getaway.

Day 1: Travel day + packing tips

I’ve always been somewhat of an overpacker, but after too many stuffed suitcases, I’ve learned how to pack just the essentials. The key is to bring basic bottoms that can mix and match with casual and fancier shirts. Oh, and you can’t go wrong with flowy dresses in the summer. Here are two dresses I bought for the trip from Free People (Dottie Mini Dress + Getaway Midi Dress in Tangerine).

TUSCANY

Day 2: Getting settled in our Agriturismo

If you’re going to Tuscany (which I highly recommend!), renting a car is the way to go. We rented a small sedan for the entire trip, even though we only really needed it in Tuscany. The highway tolls, hotel parking, and gas added up quickly.

We arrived in Rome and went straight to our Agriturismo San Giorgio which was just about 20 minutes outside of Siena. This little farmhouse came with a pool, a charming breakfast, kitties, and seriously, the most amazing view. I would highly recommend this spot if you're looking for something reasonable and central.

Swimming laps in our Agriturismo's pool.

Day 3: Exploring Pienza

After enjoying the homemade breakfast prepared by our AirBnb hosts, we changed into our swimsuits and spent the morning swimming and reading by the pool. We could have spent all day there but when in Tuscany, there’s wine drinking to be had.

Our hosts recommended Fanti Winery. They gave us a private tour of the winery and we were able to try four different wines and two olive oils. Because I ended up buying their Brunelo Reserve and olive oil, they waived our tasting fee (which would have been $25 euro with the wine tour included).

Wandering the streets of Pienza. Wearing a white denim skirt from Everlane.

After wine tasting, we made our way to Pienza which is quaint little town in the province of Siena. We ended the night eating some delicious pizza at Pumamaro. Originally we wanted to go to Trattoria Latte di Luna to sample their pici pasta but sadly, they were completely booked. So go early and make a reservation.

Wines of the region: Brunelo di Montalcino

Piazza del Campo in Siena

Day 4: Day trip to Siena

Our AirBnb was conveniently located just 20 minutes from Siena. After a short ride into town, we stopped for a small bite at Trombicche. This small restaurant and wine bar, run by two brothers, has a very local vibe. Everyone in there was speaking Italian and drinking wine. Then we meandered around the city square, ate gelato, and watched the World Cup in the main plaza drinking some Aperol Sprtiz.

Daily afternoon Aperol Spritz

Day 5: Wine tasting our way to Firenze

After making the most of our AirBnb, we got in one final swim and started making moves to Florence. On the way, we stopped at two very different but equally enjoyable wineries. The first was Antinori Nel Chianti Classico. This winery feels like you’re on a movie set and is architecturally impressive. We had lunch outside, tried two different flights of wine, and I ordered the one and only salad of the trip that was more than lettuce and olive oil. Then we made our way to Viticcio winery, a family-owned winery that sits in the hills of Chianti. The wine was so good that I ordered six bottles and had them shipped to SF.

Trying wine flights at Antinori Nel Chianti Classico

Finally, we set out for Florence and got some late night pizza at Gusta Pizza. You can get an entire pizza for $5 euro and wine for $2 euro. (Admittedly, it was hard to go the $2 route after having such fine wine the past few days.)

Wines of the region: Chianti, Montepulciano, Vermentino

Hiking up to Forte di Belvedere in Florence. Wearing the Dottie Mini Dress from Free People.

FLORENCE

Day 6: Full day in Firenze

Florence was all about food, wine, and gelato. During our stay, we referred to the 36 hours guide from the NY Times pretty extensively.

First, we had lunch at a famous sandwich spot All'Antico Vinaio. While this spot is a tourist destination, it was also delicious, cheap, and worth the wait. Then we walked to Forte di Belvedere – mainly for the views. It’s a trek though so bring lots of water and wear comfortable shoes. We ended up walking almost twenty thousand steps that day — which is why we deserved our multiple gelato stops. First up was Gelatareia dei Neri, a recommendation from a friend who studied abroad in Florence. Really good and worth the walk outside the main city square.

For an apertivo, we made our way to Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina, an elegant little wine bar with a handful of marble-topped tables and tall bookshelves lined with bottles of the high-end, small-production variety. The staff were so knowledgeable and the gazpacho was light and refreshing.

Our last stop was dinner at Il Santo Bevitore. This place reminds me of a restaurant you might find in SF – a little more modern than your typical trattoria and didn’t feel touristy at all. Pro tip: Make a reservation ahead of time and get a drink at their bar right next door. Charming hole-in-the-wall spot with an excellent wine selection.

After dinner, we got our sweet fix at Gelatareia La Carrai, another recommendation from my friend who studied abroad here. When you go, get the Biscottino “cookies” flavor. Best gelato I had all trip.

AMALFI

Day 7: Naples to Amalfi

If you want to experience the best pizza of your life, make sure you make your way to Naples. We didn’t have too much time so just passed through on our way to Amalfi. We split a Margarita pizza at Pizzeria da Michele — the perfectly cooked dough was super light and almost elastic so you didn’t feel overly full afterwards.

Hands down best pizza all trip

Then we drove to Amalfi and landed at our cute AirBnb in Minori. We chose Minori out of all the towns in Amalfi because it's a) less touristy b) cheaper. While Positano and Amalfi are gorgeous, there’s more hype so everything is more expensive and overcrowded.

Ferry ride to Positano. Wearing a crop top from Topshop.

Day 8: Paradise in Positano

No trip to Amalfi is complete without a day trip to Positano. We took a ferry from Minori to the beautiful beach town. We decided to splurge on lounge chairs ($30 euros) but totally worth it. We spent our day swimming, drinking, reading, and napping — it was perfect. After we had enough sun, we walked up to Le Sirenuse, an insanely beautiful hotel my friend recommended. Since they were overbooked, we ended up getting a bite at Bruno instead. You can sit outside overlooking the gorgeous cliffs and colors of Positano. Plus, the mussels were incredible.

30 euro lounge chairs but very worth the splurge.

Fresh mussels at Brunos

Day 9: Roaming romantic Ravello

We heard amazing things about the small town of Ravello which is up on a hillside. The only drawback is that it’s a trek to get there. You can take the bus up but we decided to hike the one thousand plus steps instead.

Hike up to Ravello. Hudson shorts from Outdoor Voices.

Post-hike at Hotel Cimbrone

Once we made it up there (sweaty and calves burning), we explored the beautiful grounds of Hotel Cimbrone. We enjoyed a post-hike glass of wine and gelato overlooking all of the Amalfi coast. We had dinner in town which was just okay, but mainly went to catch the final semi-final game of Croatia vs. England.

View from our hotel in Maori

Day 10: Last day in Amalfi

Because we loved our time in Amalfi so much, we ended up staying an extra night to check out Maori, Minori’s neighboring town. We splurged on our hotel at Club Due Torri (which we booked on Hotel Tonight). We basically spent all day there enjoying drinks by the pool. We got dinner in Maori at Pineta 1903. A great spot with an expansive patio shaded by hundreds of lemon trees.

Poolside on our last day in Amalfi

Wine drunk underneath the lemon trees.

Day 11: Rome

Since we extended our stay in Amalfi, we only had one day in Rome. We were both going for more of a relaxing vacation vs. the city feel. However, once we made it to Rome, we both wished we had had more time there. It’s the one place during the trip I could have seen myself living abroad.

Some highlights for us were walking around the neighborhood of Trastevere and getting a drink at Bar Del Fico in the City Center. It was super lively and filled with locals drinking Negroni cocktails and smoking cigarettes. We ended our night at the Trevi Fountain which is very touristy, but for good reason.

Roma

Day 12: Heading home

We left early for San Francisco for the long day of travel. Overall, the trip was better than I could have even imagined. We found the perfect balance of relaxation and exploration. If I had to choose a favorite place, it would have to be Tuscany. Lucky for me, Napa is just an hour away from San Francisco so I don’t have to travel too far to get my fix of rolling hills and local wine.

Packing List

With the New Year in motion, I’ve used this time as an opportunity to reflect on all the incredible experiences I've had in 2015. The memory that stands out the most is the Amazing Yogateacher training I attended with my mom and sister last November. While I deepened my practice and learned tools to teach yoga, I gained so much more during that week. I connected with an inspiring group of people from all over the country, bonded on a new level with my mom and sister, and learned more about myself along the way.

Going into the training, I had no idea what to expect but knew I wanted to take a break from my busy life in San Francisco. By busy, I mean my life consisted of rushing to work, running to an exercise class or social event, then tiredly plopping in bed, and then doing it all over again. And in between my activities, I was either on social media, listening to music or a podcast, or connected to some device. It took a week away from my normal routine, to realize I wasn't as "healthy" as I thought. Sure, I eat well and exercise regularly, but I wasn't making the time to appreciate my life — instead I was just going through the motions.

During the training, each morning our group would set out for a meditation walk along the beach. This morning ritual acted as such a stark contrast to my daily routine in SF. Without a schedule or to-do list, I was able to slow down and set an intention for my day. Each morning my intention varied slightly, but the common themes revolved around being mindful and grateful. Through yoga, meditation, journaling, and meals with the group, I practiced mindfulness, which in turn, made me more grateful for such an amazing opportunity.

After my training, I felt refreshed and energized to take my learnings and apply them into my daily life. It's been almost a month and a half since my week in Tulum and I still journal and meditate most days, practice yoga regularly, and have slowed down my life in SF. I'm excited for what the future will bring and all the bright moments I'll collect in 2016. Bring it on!

xo

Steph

Between our morning yoga practice and afternoon teaching sessions, we were given two hour breaks for lunch, beach time, massages, or whatever we wanted. Lazing in the hammocks and reading, had to be one of my favorite ways to relax.

If you couldn't tell from this picture above, my sister and I make a great team. Whether we're brainstorming business ventures or practicing yoga, we always encourage each other to be our best selves.

We had one free morning during the training to leave the resort and explore Tulum. A big group of us went to the Mayan Ruins. My mom studied the Mayan ruins in college, so she was particulary excited to explore the ruins. Although they were an incredible sight, it was definitely a tourist destination and I was eager to get back to our peaceful resort after our excursion.

I love this picture! I like to think that the three pineapples represent my mom, sister, and I during our amazing week in Tulum.

In San Francisco, the transition between spring and summer is pretty much non-existent. It's always a crapshoot between fog, sunshine, wind, or usually, a combination of all three. However, on those cloudy days, the city feels more dream-like and romantic, especially in Golden Gate Park. I took my gorgeous friends to the park for some photo shoot fun — which is the first location of many from the day. These two were beyond photogenic and so fun to shoot. Take a look below!

Japan has been on my bucket list for years now and I finally felt like I visited for the day at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Joined by some POPSUGAR ladies, we enjoyed tea in the garden, admired the koi fish, and cured our wanderlust (at least for the time being). I hope enjoy the pictures from the day!

One of my favorite spots in San Francisco is the Heath Ceramics and Blue Bottle Cafe in the Mission. It combines two of my passions: coffee and good design. Instead of walking into a shop, you feel as if you walked into an artist's artfully curated home. But then if you look farther, you'll see their factory, where they produce their tile daily. Although most locals know of this spot, it feels like a hidden gem tucked away from commotion and chaos.

Santa Cruz has always been my happy place. I grew up spending many weekends and holidays in Capitola where my grandpa lived, so I've continued to find comfort near the water ever since. Everything is easier — and slower — in Santa Cruz, which lends itself well to sunshine filled strolls down Pacific Ave. Every time, I somehow find myself strolling right into Stripe, my favorite boutique hands down.

I would live in Stripe if they allowed met. The sell everything from perfectly curated home decor, my favorite candles, beautiful clothing, to delicate gold jewelry — this place is dangerous. There's even a mens store next door filled with loads of quality clothing and accessories that you want to dress your man (or yourself!) in from head to toe.

After I spend too much money in Stripe, I wrap up my weekend getaway by the ocean for a calm escape before the next week begins.

When I look back on my trip to New Orleans, three things stand out clearest in my mind: beads, food (so much food), and jazz. I went with a group of five guys for Mardi Gras and what's not featured in this post are the hurricane and fish bowl cocktails we consumed on Bourbon street. We rented an Airbnb close to Tulane University, walking distance to St. Charles and all the parades. Everything about New Orleans was lively. The people, music, and night life were on a different level than anything I've experienced in San Francisco. And although, coming home to avocados and delicious produce, was just one reason I appreciate California, No Laws NOLA is a city I plan to visit again soon.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend; all taken with my iPhone using the editing tools on VSCO.

The houses and architecture in the French Quarter were so dreamy and romantic.

Bloody Marys usually trump mimosas when I'm choosing a beverage for brunch. And this one from Antoine's (the oldest family-owned restaurant in the states) was heavenly. It had just the right amount of kick I like.

I went on a pretty awesome swamp tour just about a half hour outside of the city. I saw (and held!) crocodiles, turtles, and snakes . . . then proceeded to have gator bisque later that night. Sorry gator friend.

The parades during Mardi Gras might have been my favorite part of the week. Each float had such wild colors, decorations, and costumes making me feel like I was in scene from Across the Universe.

You know it's cold when you swipe right to add the temperature filter on Snapchat and it's negative degrees. I thought experiencing winter in Berlin would have prepared me for any type of harsh weather. But my body happily adjusted back to warm weather and was not ready for the freezing temperatures in upstate New York.

Although I wish I could say this trip was for pleasure, we made the trek across the country for a memorial service. And even though it was a somber event, it reunited family members and brought loved ones closer together. With the right perspective, I truly believe there's always a positive or "blessing in disguise" to even the most horrible situations.

Here are a few pictures from our quick weekend to Saratoga Springs, NY.

Avoid this place at all costs if you're on some sort of health kick or diet. Because everything — and I mean everything — is too good to turn down. You can smell the butter and sugar from a block away and once you walk inside, you're overwhelmed (in a good way) by all the tasty treats to choose from. Mr. Holmes Bakehouse has goodies galore and they do not disappoint. After loading up on over 60 pastries, our editors were on the best kind of sugar high. Think apple cardamom scones, raspberry pistachio donuts, and cruffins (croissant + muffins). Are you drooling yet?

If you are in San Francisco and looking for an alternative to Tartine Bakery, you will want to try Mr. Holmes Bakehouse. Fun fact: Mr. Holmes is the name of his mom's cat.

Sadly, the cruffins are not pictured here.

The gold lettering and funky font makes the storefront even more inviting.

Taylor Swift and snow bunnies pretty much sum up last weekend. Surprisingly, it was the guys on the trip that put Taylor Swift's 1989 album on repeat . . . not the girls. The album seemed fitting for our weekend in Kirkwood – it was fun, dreamy, and filled with new friends.

The weather was absolutely perfect. Not too cold but just cold enough to feel like it was winter in the mountains. Here are more snaps from the trip!

The pic above perfectly exemplifies why I love California. Just a three and half hour drive from San Francisco, and you get a view like this.

My friend's cabin was stunning. The high ceilings and cozy fireplace really made the space. Even better, there were enough beds to sleep such a large party comfortably. I'm putting a cabin like this on my wish list for the future.